Sunday, November 18, 2012

Comes the Winter..


                  'I see that all the seasons are to be found in your soul
                  for at one time you feel the winter of sterility, 
                  distractions, disgust, and weariness; 
                  at another time the dews of the month of May
                  with the odour of the holy little flowers....  
                  In heaven it shall be all a springtime of beauty, 
                  all an autumn of enjoyment, 
                  all a summer of love.  
                  Winter there shall be none;
                  but here winter is necessary 
                  for the exercise of abnegation 
                  and of the thousand beautiful little virtues 
                  which are practiced in the time of barrenness.  
                  Let us keep on always at a quiet little pace...' 

                        St. Francis de Sales, letter to St. Jane de Chantal

                        Painting:  Jules Breton, Last Flowers, in US  public domain

10 comments:

  1. I love this blog and the pictures you use. Please join us at Sunday Snippets so others can be uplifted as I am by your posts.

    http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2012/11/sunday-snippets-catholic-carnival_17.html

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    1. Thank you so much, Barbara, for such kind words. I did link this one post, and I hope it's okay that Just This Once :) I didn't have time to link others from the week. I am currently working on a conversion testimony for the Cloistered Heart blog, so that's taking my "blog time" today.

      I loved this picture also, as soon as I found it, and am delighted to share it.... and particularly I love sharing the words from St. Francis de Sales!

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  2. This is beautiful! Both the picture and the quote.

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  3. Snow and late blooms and St. Francis de Sales..what a lovely way to wake and begin the week. So much to be thankful for! Have a Blessed Thanksgiving week Nancy...

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    1. Thank you, and may you have a blessed Thanksgiving also!

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  4. This is beautiful--I love the painting, and I love the quote...although I'm not sure I agree entirely with St. Francis....winter is beautiful, and holy, too, with its rest and quiet.

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    1. Kathleen, I am absolutely with you in finding winter a beautiful and holy season. In some ways it's even my favorite: crisp and cozy and calm. I wonder if Francis de Sales saw it differently in the days before good heating systems? Hmm... I'd never thought of that before!

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  5. Beautiful quote. I see the parallels. The picture is lovely. Let us keep on always at a quiet little pace. What a great quote. If we live this way it will surely keep us balanced. Thank you. Happy Thanks Giving. ~Amy

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    1. Thanks very much, Amy. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving as well!

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